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Subscribe to RSSThe Squawk Box's children tell viewers what they learned from spending the day on the set and in the television studio on "Take Your Kids to Work" day.
Thursday is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work day, although perhaps you didn't notice.
The annual event, started 20 years ago as a way to expose girls and young women to workplace and career opportunities, has attracted less attention in recent years.
Perhaps it’s another thing to blame on The Great Recession and slow economic recovery. The high joblessness that has plagued the economy for five years has left many parents without work.
It’s also left those who are lucky enough to have a job nervous about holding onto it. That may mean it's not a great time for your child to say something embarrassing to your boss, spill soda on the keyboard or keep you from getting a day’s worth of work done.
There’s also the matter of how work has changed. Even two years ago, The New York Times noted that many kids already see their parents working a lot, because so many people now take their work home.
There have also been other criticisms of the event. Julie Drizin, director of the Journalism Center on Children and Families, wrote this week that she wouldn’t be participating after realizing that people who work long hours in low-wage jobs probably aren’t able to, either.
“I’ve come to believe that Take Your Daughters And Sons to Work Day is largely a feel-good exercise for the privileged,” she wrote.
Of course, many will participate. Carolyn McKecuen, president of the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Foundation, said that while some organizations have stopped participating, other companies have joined.
She doesn’t think there has been a big drop in participation, although she conceded the group has not done an exact accounting.
That’s partly because the organization, an offshoot of the Ms. Foundation, has itself been hit hard by the recession. It now operates on about a quarter of its former budget because of a drop in big donors.
McKecuen said some have used the day to speak frankly about the current economy. She said she has heard of unemployed parents getting together with their children to discuss how to write a resume and look for a job.
Times have changed since the event began 20 years ago solely for girls, later expanding to include boys.
McKecuen, who has two boys, thinks including both genders has been valuable.
“Guys need to know if they want to be a nurse they can be a nurse. They don’t have to fly a plane,” she said.
“The reason we started this has changed very little over the years,” she said. “It was designed to expose youth to what (their parents) do in their lives during the workday, and the demands and the possibilities in the workplace.”
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Long overdue to kill this idea... I agree that we should expose our kids to the value of work and career opportunities. BUT... take your kids to work? No... Huge distraction and not well organized in our very large company. What a waste...
When I was in school (not too long ago) take your daughter to work day was greatly discouraged by educators, principals, and school board members, because students miss a day of school.
My father took me to work when I was little (long before this day exsisted)...I could'nt wait to go. I participated in this day with both of my sons for about 4 years, they as well loved it. Special lunch out with Dad, seeing what Dad does, meeting different people....more bonding time, than exposure to the "real world". If possible in your workplace, I highly recommend this day....it does nothing but good.
They should bring their kids to the work place to show them what a cubicle farm/prision looks like and hopefully encourage them to aim higher.
In 2012 it's been replaced by, Take-Your-Kids-To-The-Unemployment-Office Day.
About 6 years ago, I was able to take my daughters with me to work as a polysomnographist in satellite hospital sleep labs. Career day they could go with me to my main hospital campus, where I knew all the nurses, etc... and showed them what an education can do for you, the difference it can make.
I'm currently unemployed, was unable to get work back in sleep care in the area (new students graduating, much cheaper to hire.... none will even discuss if I'm willing to take a pay cut; they just see the number of years worked on my resume). After and prior, I'd put in about 10 years CNC machining and no.... there's no point in taking them there. Not only isn't it legal for them to be in the shop, but why I went back to college... wouldn't wish factory life on any. But, now trying to get back in; terrible, terrible economy.
Some shop jobs are coming back for various reasons, but pay is equivelant or less than that I'd left behind 8 years ago (last year, a few odd jobs). That was broken by design as was our economy for the same reasons; don't let us have too much, beat 'em down so they feel lucky to even have a job.
Major point is, however, that kids may gleen some from knowing how a job functions; work, breaks, hierarchy and such.... there are some positives. Many now have part time, mundane, or low pay high hour jobs that show quite a bit more of the negatives than the positives; WE don't even want to be there and are qualified for much better. Depending on the age, it's not a good time for many to say, 'see... this is why you want to do well in school and get a job'(even college does in no way guarantee they won't be working next to you one day anymore).
For those that do have work you want or are proud of, enjoy, as I did in sleep medicine I'd say great.... take 'em in, many many positives. Otherwise, I wouldn't want to scare 'em off.....
Its because of people like you that are ruining this good day and opportunity to expose kids to work life and teach them. At my company no one would ever dream of even considering to ask to bring in their kids. Its sad. This company would still do just fine for ONE DAY for those with children aged what 5-18 to bring them in.
Here's the deal... it's very simple. You know your kid. Just be honest with yourself, and actually consider the question: is your kid an asshoIe? Because deep down, some of you know your kids are. I've had employees bring in kids who talked back to adults they'd just met, made crude observations about people's physical characteristics at an age when they should know better, and get into screaming matches with each other in the office.
People, if you know your kids are horrorshows, do us all a favor and leave 'em at home. If your kid is quiet, well-behaved, polite, and actually wants to learn about what you do, then by all means bring them. Leave the ADHD poster children in the special needs classes where they belong, though, okay?
Chris---are you incapable of communicating on a more mature level? Is it the kids or you?
If a child is disrupting the workplace, they need to leave, that simple. The problem is most kids end up sitting around watching their parents who cannot perform their jobs at the level required as they are watching their kid. It ends up being a waste of time for the business and its employees. I believe there should be an age requirement, above 14, and the children should be assigned tasks to perform. Copying, collating--whatever, just understand it is not a big party and there are obligations in the workplace.
You know, I don't consider teaching my kid what my actual workplace is a distraction.
Agreed LG. My father didn't take me to work once a year and I seem to have been able to make it through school and get a job without any problem. This is all just more ridiculous, PC BS.
I seriously recommend reading this article. http://www.journalismcenter.org/resource/class-dismissed
She makes alot of great points. The kids that need this the most are not the ones participating and the kids that are participating likely don't need it.
Bencas: How is a child going to leave the workplace without the parent having to miss work? It's bad enough they've been embarrassed because they brought such a horror show to the office, but now they've got to deprive themselves of a full day's pay to return them to school, or find someone else (relative, babysitter) to take the child?
Don't bring 'em in the first place. Children should be involved in age-appropriate work lessons if they're going to learn the value of work.
In middle school, I was in Junior Achievement with an adult supervisor and that taught me FAR more than going to the parts manufacturing factory with my father did.
MarthaVader1, it may have been discouraged, but what really were you missing? Something like Take Your Child to Work Day shows you what the real world is like. Truthfully, I don't think a lot of schools do well preparing kids for the real world.
Where I worked there was an age limit and the company had programs set for the different ages. There were also areas where you couldn't bring children because of safety issues. I always thought is was cute to see a 8 yr old decked out in a suit and tie helping mom or dad with simple tasks like carrying mail to the boxes with their parent supervising.
MarthVader1 - My child is a high school Freshman this year and in our district a Job Shadowing Day is required along with a certain number of volunteer hours in order to graduate. Luckily the school gives the kids 1 pre-arranged, freebie day just for it in April.
There are still a lot of places where is just is not done, nor acceptable. Parent's need to cook dinner (not purchase fast food) and sit down as a family and try to talk with each other--that would be of more value. Possibly help with teaching little Johnny how to read, arithmatic? Play some games together?
Keep those monsters at home!
Chris, I wouldn't have used your "@!$%#" remark, nor called some peoples' children "horrorshows", but I do in the main agree w/ you. A lot of parents need to really think about their child/children & seriously consider how mature/well-behaved they are or aren't, before taking them to their workplace. A kid who can't behave is going to put a strain on tour boss- & co-worker relationships, as well as make you a subject for gossip behind your back throughout the whole workplace, not just in your own dept.
If anything, it's more relevant than ever. Children are becoming so ingrained in the "I want this, so I should have it given to me" mentality; they need to see what goes into actually working for something.
and of course the parents that would take their kids to work are those that are teaching their kids that mentality, so who's to blame really? The 8 year old, or the parents?
I roll my eyes when I hear people complain about the "children's sense of entitlement" these days. It's always some parent complaining their kids are spoiled without seeing the irony of their complaints...
You got it right, DrMan. Kids need to know that the money that feeds, clothes, and shelters them did not just appear out of the thin air, and that all the hard work they are put through at school is just a prelude to what is to come.
It is a great idea and they are all here as I write. Bring your child to work day can turn to "Scared Straight", No mommy I don't want to work in an office full of Insurance Geeks. I promise to study hard and eat all my greens.....
They don't learn anything from going to work with the parent except that the parent doesn't actually do any work the day the child is with them. The child then thinks it's easier to earn money than it actually is. The parents thinks they have to make the day "fun" and goofs off for the day. Most kids need the school time. I think they should go to school more days than they do.
Too many students do not attend school regularly anyway. Children should be in school.
My poor kid is so bored in school that taking her to work just one day let her apply skills she had already mastered, and stimulate new areas of learning: Reading an order and checking to completion, alphabetizing, learned all about 3-phase energy, how a cathode and anode work, anatomy which was visualized first hand through x-rays, chemistry, needed for developing films, phlebotomy with more anatomy discussed and more chemistry explaining the differences in additives in a vacutainer. The learning opportunities were exceptional.
The irony of the whole situation is I had to go over my bosses head to be able to participate in the program that my hospital was encouraging!
From what you described, I gather you work in some sort of medical supplies facility or maybe a hospital.
And just a heads-up, it's a huge violation of HIPAA if you were letting your kid read people's medical records.
Nope, every patient was informed and consent was obtained after my runt was introduced. You think the hospital would be so stupid?
I don't think the hospital administration would be that stupid; I do however know that individual hospital employees can be that monumentally stupid.
Chris, stop being an irritable human a-hole.............get a life dude.
Aww, got your panties in a knot, Seven?
Not at Chrissy, you act like old toad with stick up his @ass.....
DrMan, A child doesn't wake up one day with that sense of entitlement, it's begins when their still small enough to fit in the kid seat in a grocery cart. I've seen baby's who can barely wobble around with enough toys to have their own store,
Chris, I agree with you! Hippa was being violated and why oh why would someone take a kid to a hospital, nursing home or medical rehab?? These type places are filthy. When I was still working I know what I walked through during the course of my shift.
I'm just hoping that 1619317 only a secretary and shouldn't even be in a patients room, let alone possible reading charts or being on a computer.
Kids go to hospitals all the time to visit family and friends; and, at my mom's memory care facility kids come frequently to dance and sing for (or color with) the residents. It teaches the kids that old age is something that eventually happens to almost everyone. Charts are kept where the kids can't get to them (obviously!) It makes the resident's day; and, the kids seem to enjoy it as well.
In my organization children would see a lot of people standing around making believe that they are working. Also, this started out being Take Your Daughters to Work Day. Then someone screamed discrimination and boys were added. That was the end for me. Women didn't believe enough in themselves to stand up and say "hey, this day is for us, not for boys too."
It is not enough that her daughter should succeed, but also boys must fail.
...says the guy posting on MSNBC during business hours.
Why is it that some guys view anything and everything pro-female to be anti-male? Talk about insecure.....
It was changed because girls in school would tease the boys about getting a free day off - it was only fair
mjbo8, Get over yourself. If it had happened the other way around you probably would've been the first standing up yelling discrimination..Talk to the hand!
I think that this is a fine idea that should happen during the summer when schools are not in session. I suspect that employers would not appreciate school sponsoring a take your parents to school day on company time.
It's not only a distraction for those who bring their children to work, but also for those who don't. In my years working in offices, I've yet to see anyone actually taking the time to explain to their kids what they're doing, engaging their kids in conversations with coworkers to explain how things work, time spent with the children discussing careers and opportunities. All I've seen in recent years are kids with knapsacks filled with stuff to keep them entertained for the day. It's become a national skip day - what a squandered opportunity.
I agree, most parents do squander the opportunity. On the other hand, at what age are children able to really comprehend what their parents do at work? Is your average 10-year-old going to know what the hell mom or dad is talking about when they start explaining the difference between portable life insurance and group voluntary life insurance? Are they going have any clue what variable annuities valuation production is?
Maybe they should change it to, "Take your high school senior to work day."
We have taken the time to explain our business to my kids. However, it does not always make it productive, especially if they are not interested and just being polite. I agree with the writer that stated it should be held during the summer, that enforces the importance of school while allowing those that want to participate the opportunity.
Seeing my grandfather and mother at work really made an impression on me that it was important to contribute to society, that it was important to learn a skill to make a living and that hard work can produce results. I accompanied them to work well before any special "day" in the 1950's and it taught me more than any one day in school.
It depends on what your career field is.
"Honey, sit over there while mommy dances around this pole..."
Ummmm, not so much...
We're all still working once we get home, they don't need to come to our office to see what we're doing...
I am lucky enough to be able to work one day a week at home because most of my job is spent on the computer. My husband is in similar situation. Unfortunately, when my daughter gets home from school she would like to talk or play with me and I must tell her I'm working. Outside of work hours I also do a little bit of freelance work for extra $ and I do work for the PTA when needed. So there are times when she says "you are always working" because she'd like some time with me. She is seeing what I do for a living and she is also seeing how life-consuming work can be. I don't feel a need to take her out of class to have her at work with me. She'd enjoy hanging out at recess with her friends much more than listening to people tell her mom what needs to be done!
But if you did need to take her out of school to see this because you weren't lucky enough to work from home, one day out of school to learn this lesson would be well worth it!
In today's economy, taking your kid to work could mean taking your kid to a job that you took on just to keep your head above financial waters after being let go from a job you had gone to college for, trained for, or enjoyed for 20 years or so. What's the message in it for the child? A kid can learn healthy work ethics just from home and what is expected from them to get through their education. Kids can decide on a career by researching and maybe visiting a company, manufacturer, business, etc. to get an inside view. My grandson's elementary school took their first graders to one of the local hospitals and they had the chance to play doctor, nurse, patient and other positions related to the hospital. This can be done in many other areas.
The time is passed. With women making up nearly 50% of the work force, and in some industries, higher employment levels than men, take your daughter to work day is no longer needed. It was a good idea when it was started. Our firm, like many others, organized events for the day to make the day meaningful to the children who came. What is more important now is making sure young people who want to work can get jobs! Teens need access to summer jobs so they can start learning proper work habits and reporting to superiors.
I think it also depends on the job and how old the child is. I highly doubt an 8 year old would want to see me do my job unless I was a fireman or a cop. However, a high school senior thinking about college would be a different story.
I adored my grandfather's history lectures at the age of 5. Perhaps because he took the time to explain to me what they were about BEFORE putting me in the back of the classroom.
The problem with take your kids to work day is that it has been an organized event at my company with photos, gathering the kids and parents in a conference room to play office bingo..can you find a phone etc. , cookies, punch, organized lunch, group photos etc. Our company has not done it for a couple of years because of the hoopla and what do they learn from that? We are allowed to bring our kids in (when they are old enough) for a while and let them see us really work. I will have my middle schooler come in for a day this summer and my 5 yr old come in the morning for half a day in a couple of years. Kids are curious about what their parents do. They need to see this. My youngest has a need to see my office every now and again so he can mentally compute where I am and what sort of things I do at work. He asks me if I still sit by the window etc. all the time.
Its good that your company lets you guys do that. My large *family owned private* company wouldnt have any of it. Sad.
Parents can take their children to work during the summer. The lost class time is unnecessary.
Sure, because the ONE DAY they take off from school will ruin them, especially with being exposed to all that 'work,' and the silly 'responsibilities' their parents have to fulfill.
Pshaw...
That doesn't mean that those who are able to bring their spawn to work shouldn't, simply because other people aren't in that position. What's the point of being privileged if you don't take advantage of that status?
Wow, I didn't realize so many people see this as being a bad idea. It's a harmless way to show your kids what you do for a living and give them an idea if they'd like to go in to that field. I spent a day with my dad who is a boiler mechanic and decided on that day that I was going to go to college and work in an office. Prior to going to his work, I was always interested in exactly what he did. In Canada, I do not hear ANY negative attitudes toward take your kid to work day.
Not only to see if they would be interested in what you do - but in what other people in the company do.
Well, maybe Canadian kids are better behaved than their sugar-saturated American counterparts. Because if you'd seen some of the rambunctious lunatics that people have brought into my office, you'd understand why a lot of us think it's a bad idea.
Parents can take their students to work during the summer. This is an unnecessary loss of time they should be in class.
Our Congressmen and Senators on the state and federal level should all take their children to work with them. That is the easiest way to teach someone to be a criminal and how to get away with it.
Is it relevant? I think so. It's good exposure.
If Republicans get control of the government this next election it will become "Put your kids to work day!"
I mean, why should young uns' get a break. We pay for their schools, etc. Time for them to pitch in like the rest of us!
You just say whatever comes to your mind don't you? God, you make Democrats look like dumbasses.
You mean Newt is a Democrat? News to me! Wasn't that one of the Republican talking points in the "great right race"?
And just so you know, it is generally better to look like one than to be one.
Why in the world would you say this and make this a partisan issue?! Your comment just shows that some make EVERYTHING a partisan issue. Does your hatred for republicans REALLY go that deep?! If so, you must lead a pretty miserable life. Life is too short to spend it all hating and bashing. Look for something good. It's out there.
I agree. Vote Democratic and you'll be on the right track.
Oh yeah.... the democrat party is all good. Good GSA parties... Bills that we have to pass to find out what's in em. The most transparent administration in history.
Funny, but when Americans are polled, a very high percentage of them (right now) believe we are on the wrong track. Clearly, Americans thought they were going to get something very different from "hope" and "change".
to LG- you have a bad attitude in my opinion. if your company does not do a good job at this project then shame on the people within the company. My husband's company prides itself on all of the parents participating to show the kids what is done at the corporation. The kids love it and learn a bit of what their parents do each and every day. Exposure is one of the best tools to learn. My son is so excited and proud to be part of this tradition. He even wears a tie (his choice not ours) since he associates this with work and being an adult man in corporate America.